- Saskatchewan dominates Week 1, with eight Team of the Week choices: The Roughriders almost swept the offensive line honors and have been led by standout performances from huge receiver Samuel Emilus and inside defender Caleb Sanders.
- Nathan Rourke returns to type as B.C.’s chief: Rourke earned high quarterback honors in Week 1 after recording 376 whole yards and a league-best 90.8 total grade.
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The 2025 CFL common season kicked off this previous weekend with standout performances throughout the board. As at all times, we’ll be spotlighting the league’s high gamers every week with our ‘Team of the Week’ choices.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders led the best way in Week 1 with a dominant displaying and a league-high eight gamers named to the group. The B.C. Lions additionally impressed, incomes 5 choices. Despite a convincing win, the Calgary Stampeders positioned simply two gamers on the listing—nonetheless greater than the Edmonton Elks, whose lone consultant was punter Cody Grace.
OFFENSE
- QB: Nathan Rourke, B.C.
- RB: Dedrick Mills, Calgary
- Receiver: Samuel Emilus, Saskatchewan
- Receiver: Justin Hardy, Ottawa
- Receiver: Bralon Addison, Ottawa
- Receiver: Stanley Berryhill III, B.C.
- Receiver: Damonte Coxie, Toronto
- LT: Payton Collins, Saskatchewan
- LG: Trevon Tate, Saskatchewan
- C: Logan Ferland, Saskatchewan
- RG: Donald Ventrelli, Montreal
- RT: Jermarcus Hardrick, Saskatchewan
DEFENSE
- DI: Caleb Sanders, Saskatchewan
- DI: Dewayne Hendrix, B.C.
- Edge: Mathieu Betts, B.C.
- Edge: Habakkuk Baldonado, Saskatchewan
- LB: Tyrice Beverette, Montreal
- LB: Darnell Sankey, Montreal
- Cover LB: Tiawan Mullen, Montreal
- CB: Garry Peters, B.C.
- CB: Adrian Frye, Ottawa
- HB: DaMarcus Fields, Saskatchewan
- HB: DaShaun Amos, Hamilton
- S: Derek Slywka, Toronto
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Ok: Rene Paredes, Calgary.
- P: Cody Grace, Edmonton
- Returner: Isaiah Wooden, Hamilton
QUARTERBACK OF THE WEEK: QB NATHAN ROURKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Rourke benefited from a full offseason again in Canada to reacclimate to the CFL sport after struggling in his return final 12 months. If Week 1 is any indication, he’s again in high type. Rourke threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns, main the league with a 72.7% accuracy price and two big-time throws. He didn’t log a single turnover-worthy play and earned an 86.6 passing grade. He additionally contributed on the bottom, scrambling 5 occasions for 52 yards and forcing 5 missed tackles.
His 90.8 total grade led all CFL gamers in Week 1.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: WR SAMUEL EMILUS, SASKATCHEWAN
The sport bought off to a tough begin for Emilus, who fumbled on his first catch. But he shortly put that behind him, delivering the best grade of the week for any non-quarterback at 88.9 total. Emilus caught all eight of his targets for 133 yards and a landing, selecting up six first downs, making two contested catches and main the league with 4.43 yards per route run. He additionally excelled as a blocker, incomes an 87.7 run-blocking grade.
After back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Emilus seems to be poised for a 3rd with performances like this.
OFFENSIVE LINE OF THE WEEK: SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
The Roughriders’ offensive line was dominant in Week 1, coming only one participant in need of a full sweep of the offensive line spots on the Team of the Week. As a unit, they allowed only one strain—a quarterback hurry early within the third quarter—and have been charged with solely 4 whole pass-blocking downgrades.
Left guard Trevon Tate and heart Logan Ferland led the best way, not dropping a single pass-protection rep all sport. Their efficiency within the run sport was equally sturdy, because the Riders averaged 1.4 yards earlier than contact per carry, the third-highest mark within the league.
PASS RUSHER OF THE WEEK: ED MATHIEU BETTS, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Two years in the past, Mathieu Betts set the single-season sack document for a Canadian with 19. While he was held with out a sack in Saturday’s sport, that stat doesn’t inform the complete story. Betts was a continuing presence within the backfield, racking up a league-high 9 quarterback hurries and including one other pass-rush win. He posted a league-best 27.3% strain price and led all gamers with an 84.1 pass-rush grade.
RUN DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: LB ADARIUS PICKETT, OTTAWA
Ottawa’s protection didn’t utterly shut down Saskatchewan’s dashing assault, however they did handle to include it, largely because of the efforts of SAM linebacker Adarius Pickett. Pickett led all gamers in Week 1 with 5 solo tackles and one help in opposition to the run. He notched three solo stops and didn’t document a single negatively graded run protection snap. His 86.2 run-defense grade was the best within the league for the week.
COVERAGE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: CB GARRY PETERS, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Garry Peters used Week 1 to bolster his repute because the CFL’s closest factor to a shutdown nook. On 34 protection snaps, he was focused simply 3 times, producing two compelled incompletions and permitting solely a single reception that went for a lack of 7 yards. He additionally added a solo cease on a jet sweep move.
Unsurprisingly, Peters leads the league after one week with a median of -0.19 yards allowed per protection snap. His 84.3 protection grade topped all secondary gamers.